PSY 101 Ch. 2 part 2

msu

Population

Entire group about whom conclusion is to be drawn

Sample

Portion of population actually observed for the study

Random sample

each individual has equal chance of being selected, minimizes bias

“Artificial” World

Laboratory setting, controlled

“Real” World

Natural setting, naturalistic

Advantage and disadvantages of Laboratory settings

Allows researchers to strictly control variables and establish clear cause-and-effect relationships, but it creates an artificial environment that may not reflect real-world behavior

Advantage and disadvantages of Natural settings

Lets researchers study genuine, real-world behavior without artificial laboratory constraints, but it lacks experimental control, making it difficult to prove cause and effect.

Mean

average score

Median

midpoint

Mode

most frequent score

a = ___ (confidence level)

0.05

Research Ethics

Research participants have rights, risks to participants must be balanced against scientific merit of the study. Researchers have a responsibility to protect participants from pshycial and mental harm.

APA Ethics Guidelines

• informed consent

• confidentiality

• debriefing

• deception

Example of an Observation

Survivors of spousal suicide were more likely to get sick than those whose spouses died from accidents.

Example of a Hypothesis

Those who write about trauma have better physical health.

Example of a Test

Subjects wrote either about trauma or uninteresting topic.

Example of a Conclusion

Trauma writing group had better physical health.

Example of an Evaluation

Expressive writing can have health benefits.